The Sunday Herald publishes the following as the views expressed by President Eliot.

"It is scarcely practicable to attempt in college a direct preparation for political life. A statesman (and in speaking of politics I give it its higher definition of statesmanship,) should be a man of broad education. He has to deal not merely with localities, but with the world, and his mental equipment should be such that he may comprehend the thought and movement of the world as thoroughly as a merchant comprehends the daily movement of the market. The broadest, the best education that a college can give, therefore, is the best preparation for a political career. The nearest that Harvard, or any college, can come to a direct preparation for this must be in its courses of historical study, of political economy, of law, and the like. It is true that these things will serve a young man in almost any profession which he may choose to adopt, but it is also true that these things are essentials to the political life. It is true, again, that a young man must have a natural inclination for politics as he must have for the law or the church, or for any other career with which he would identify himself with the hopes of success. But. while this natural inclination may exist in many cases, the fact is that politics offers no inducement as a profession to the young men of America. It is a most uncertain career, if, indeed it may be called a career. We have had few men and we have fewer now, who have made politics their life work. The reason is that they could not afford to do so. As to the

POSITION OF COLLEGE MENin the matter, there is a very erroneous, though popular, impression abroad. College men, certainly Harvard men, do not shun politics as a pestilence, as an unclean thing. They seek for a career which will give them a livelihood; the only offer of politics is uncertainty. It is said that our political affairs are being controlled by the wealthy classes. If that is so, it is because only wealthy men, or men of means, can afford to devote their time to the public service. On the other hand, it is commonly said that the majority of Harvard students belong to wealthy families, and that they look upon politics as something beneath them. This is not true. Nineteen-twentieths of the students in Harvard must earn their own living after they leave the college. If they look askance upon politics, it is because politics does not offer them a living. He would be an ill-advised youth who would rush into the political arena in the vain hope of honorably wrestling therefrom a competence sufficient to maintain him in his early years of struggle. Where would he begin? At the bottom of the ladder; in the common council, perhaps. There he would receive no remuneration. Nor as an alderman would he receive pay for his duties, at least, not in honorable fashion. * * * *

Under such circumstances as these, how can politics or the public service attract young men of education and ability who must earn their living, and who feel compelled to place their talents in the most remunerative market? Harvard provides direct preparation for all those callings for which a great university can prepare its young men. But, as I have said, direct preparation for political life is scarcely possible within the college walls. Many studies which relate thereto, and which are necessary parts of a statesman's education, can be, and are assiduously pursued, and I doubt not that you would find hosts of Harvard men entering the political lists if by so doing they could win those rewards of faithful service which must surely come to them in any other walk of life. * * * * If things were otherwise, it might be possible to do more in the way of directly fitting young men for active participation in the political life of the republic. As it is, the young men must choose for themselves.